reflect Their Time What especially strikes you from this story? Write a brief paraphrase in your own words of what is happening.

Transcription

1 DEVOTIONAL WEEK 1

2 re-read Let s review what we read Sunday. Read Acts 1:1-14. Their Time What especially strikes you from this story? Write a brief paraphrase in your own words of what is happening. All Time What principle(s) can you learn from this passage? Write out the timeless truth(s) from the section you paraphrased above. My Time What is the personal application of the all-time principle(s)? challenge: empty to be filled Through this study, our hope is that we are people who create space for the Spirit to be unleashed in our hearts and souls, and in turn, be the Church Unleashed into the world for Christ. Every week, we will be challenged to take a unique and intentional step of removal inside a specific theme. This week s focus is noise. The challenge is to identify an area you can reduce or remove noise and replace it with silence. The goal is not to be silent for silence s sake, but instead to allow space for spiritual introspection and listening to the Holy Spirit. Below are some suggestions for the week. If you listen to something in your car, turn it off and drive in silence. If you listen to something when you exercise, take out the earbuds. Add 5, 10, or 15 minutes of silence to your daily devotional rhythm. As a family, incorporate a quiet time at home when no one can speak. Take an extended amount of time in silence (2 hours, ½ day, full day). No talking, no listening to or watching media. Commit this week to speak only when you are spoken to. These are merely suggestions. Your intentional step is your choice. What will your intentional step be? How will you take advantage of this silence to listen for the Holy Spirit s impressions?

3 learn from others As you intentionally remove noise from your life, you are actually taking a step into a spiritual discipline called solitude, which has been practiced by Christians for centuries. Today, take some time to watch or read about what this discipline is and why it can be helpful to experience the unleashing of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Video from the Salvation Army s Center for Spiritual Development Watch the video by visiting Article from Dr. Donald Whitney Read the article by visiting day two As you watched the video and/or read the article, what did you learn, or what especially struck you about the discipline of solitude?

4 words to remember day three Each week, we will focus on a promise or commandment from Scripture that ties to that week s theme. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the Word. Commit these verses to memory. If you were at NMC on Sunday, you should have received a ring with cards on it. These cards contain the verses for the entire series and can be used to help you memorize each week s theme. If you did not pick up a ring, you can find digital copies of these cards on our app under the Sermon Resources tab or on our website. You can always pick up physical copies at the Ministry Center at NMC. This week s verse: To gain context for this verse, read all of Psalm 46. What struck you as you read it? What does it look like for you to, Be still, and know that (He is) God? As you practice your intentional step of silence, allow this verse to be on the forefront of your mind.

5 Digging Deeper: Unleashed Stories day four Every week, we will talk with different people in the NMC family who have experienced or are experiencing their own journey of being the Church Unleashed. Listen to it on: Our app: Tap Sermon Resources on the home page Our website: nmc.church/media/sermon-resources Our Facebook Page: facebook.com/nmconline itunes: Subscribe to the NMC Digging Deeper podcast Write out any impressions or takeaways from this week s conversation below.

6 lessons from silence day five What are you learning from intentionally steping out of noise and into silence and solitude? finding silence in Scripture Psalm 46:10 is not the only place in Scripture that speaks to the value of solitude and silence. Read these other passages and take time in the space provided to write your thoughts/ions. Psalm 62:1-6 Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 Habakkuk 2:20 Mark 6:31 Luke 5:16

7 pre-read Take some time to prepare for week two of our study by reading and ing on the Scripture we will cover. Read Acts 2:1-41. day six! How do you see our Unleashed theme being carried out in this part of the story?... What is one verse or section that expecially resonates with you?? What is one question that comes up for you in this Scripture?

8 app You can work through this devotional week-by-week on our app! Each day will save to your phone, even after you close the app. Just tap on Sermon Resources on the home page, and you ll find this devotional, each week s verse, and the NMC Digging Deeper podcast. weekly verses Each week, we will focus on one verse that reinforces that week s theme. These verses will be posted on our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and on our app. Physical copies will also be available at the Ministry Center. Take one for yourself, a family member, and a friend, and let s be the Church Unleashed together! Digging Deeper: Unleashed Stories Digging Deeper is a NMC podcast that explores this series on a deeper level. Every week, we will talk with different people in the NMC family who have experienced or are experiencing their own journey of being the Church Unleashed. This podcast will be released every Thursday and can be accessed on the following platforms: App: Tap Sermon Resources on the homepage itunes: Subscribe to the NMC Digging Deeper podcast NMC Website: Visit nmc.church/media/sermon-resources Facebook: Visit facebook.com/nmconline